In their first outing of the new year, Western Sydney Wanderers welcome Macarthur to the CommBank Stadium on Sunday in matchday 10 of the 2022-23 Australian A-League season.
With the teams currently separated by just one point in the standings, this weekend's clash promises to be an absorbing affair as two title hopefuls face off.
Match preview
Western Sydney Wanderers had to settle for a share of the spoils on Friday following a 1-1 draw against Brisbane Roar at the Moreton Daily Stadium.
Mark Rudan's men stormed to an early lead thanks to Oliver Bozanic's 18th-minute opener, after which Carlo Armiento struck just past the hour mark to restore parity.
The Wanderers remain second in the Australian A-League table but have now fallen four points adrift of division leaders Melbourne City, albeit having played a game more.
Lying in store next is the task of going up against an opposing outfit who are without defeat in the previous five meetings between the teams, winning three of them.
Off the back of a first home defeat of the season in their last outing on home turf, Sunday's hosts will be targeting an immediate return to winning ways in front of their fans.
Macarthur made it three wins from four matches as they eased past the challenge of Sydney FC in a comfortable 3-0 triumph at the Sydney Football Stadium on Saturday.
Two goals from Bachana Arabuli either side of Ulises Davila's second-half strike got the job done for Dwight Yorke's men in a largely one-sided contest.
Consequently, the Bulls now sit third in the standings with 14 points from nine matches so far and have made a good start to their hunt for a playoff berth.
Having come out on top in each of their last two away involvements, scoring six goals, Sunday's visitors will fancy themselves to serve up another superb attacking display on the road.
Team News
Jarrod Carluccio is yet to feature for Western Sydney since the third week of October due to a long-term injury, and the midfielder will not play any part on Sunday.
Gabriel Cleur received his fourth yellow card of the season last time out, meaning that he is now just one caution away from receiving a suspension.
Since returning to action, Bachana Arabuli has scored three goals in as many starts, and the Georgia international is one to keep an eye on.
Twenty-year-old Isaac Hovar remains without an appearance for the visitors this term as he continues his spell on the sidelines due to a long-term injury.
Western Sydney Wanderers possible starting lineup:
Thomas; Traore, Marcelo, Mrcela, Cleur; Borrello, Nieuwenhof, Amalfitano, N'Gbakoto; Bozanic, Krpic
Macarthur possible starting lineup:
Kurto; Vujica, Aspropotamitis, Uskok, Millar; De Silva, Hollman; Toure, Davila, Noone; Arabuli
We say: Western Sydney Wanderers 2-1 Macarthur
Western Sydney currently boast the A-League's best defensive record, but we expect goals at both ends this weekend. That said, we also fancy the hosts to just about see off the threat of their visitors and come away with all three points.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
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